🏨 Where to Stay in Joshua Tree | Areas + Lodging + Map |

California

If you plan to visit Joshua Tree National Park, one of the most important decisions of your trip is choosing where to stay. Although there are no hotels inside the park, there are several nearby towns that serve as the perfect base for exploring it, each with different advantages depending on your itinerary, budget, or the type of experience you're looking for in the California desert.

In this post, you'll find the best areas to stay in Joshua Tree, with the advantages and disadvantages of each and some recommended accommodations. We haven't forgotten about campgrounds either, as we've included a summary table of all of them.

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Hotels north of Joshua Tree

As we explain in our guide to visiting Joshua Tree, the northern part of the national park is the most famous area and where most of the tourist attractions are located. It's also the entrance you'll use if you are coming from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and most likely San Diego.

In this area, you'll find two of the main entrances (the North Entrance and the West Entrance), each with its own visitor center. There are also two other secondary entrances, such as Black Rock Canyon and Indian Cove.

These are the best towns to stay near Joshua Tree on the north side:

Twentynine Palms

This town located in the middle of the desert is known for its bohemian and peaceful atmosphere, with art galleries, murals, and local shops full of character. There are plenty of accommodation and dining options, and it's close to the North Entrance of Joshua Tree and the Sky's The Limit Observatory.

🏨 You can find all accommodations in Twentynine Palms here, but we recommend:

Oasis Inn & Suites 29 Palms: functional hotel with spacious rooms, swimming pool, and hot tub. It has a 24-hour front desk, parking next door, and a restaurant. It's located on the main road and a little way from the center. ➡️ Book it here.
Holiday Inn Express Twentynine Palms: typical American chain hotel with spacious rooms, a swimming pool, and free parking. Breakfast buffet is included in the price, and it's also located on the main road. ➡️ Book it here.
Ramsey 29: if you're looking for a hotel right in the center of town, close to lots of restaurants, and also modern, this is a fantastic option. This is one of the best hotels near Joshua Tree! ➡️ Book it here.

Joshua Tree

The town of Joshua Tree is located next to the park's West Entrance and has a similar atmosphere to Twentynine Palms, although it's a little livelier. Here you can find local shops and restaurants, live music, and art galleries. Don't miss the curious World Famous Crochet Museum, a very original and tiny museum dedicated to crochet.

💡Recommended: Things to do in Joshua Tree and Surroundings | Top Plans + Map |

🏨 You'll find all the lodging options in Joshua Tree here, but it's true that there aren't many decent hotels and that the vast majority are large houses for several people or very old and outdated motels. Without a doubt, the one we like the most and would choose is this one:

AutoCamp Joshua Tree: super original accommodation, as the rooms are in legendary Airstream caravans, very typical of the US and notable for their rounded shape and aluminum bodywork. The interior of the caravans is very modern, with every detail taken care of, and each one has an outdoor barbecue and fire pit. There is also a swimming pool. ➡️ Book it here.

Accommodation in Joshua Tree — AutoCamp Joshua Tree

Yucca Valley

This town is located 19 km (12 mi) from the park's West Entrance and is larger than the previous ones, as it has large supermarkets and restaurant chains. If you want to be relatively close to the park but without sacrificing city amenities, then this is the place for you. Yucca Valley is also the gateway to the Black Rock Canyon area of the park.

🏨 You'll find all accommodations in Yucca Valley here, but the best options are:

Field Station Joshua Tree: a modern, industrial-style hotel with spacious, comfortable rooms and very pleasant common areas. It has a swimming pool, garden, and terrace. ➡️ Book it here.
Spark by Hilton Yucca Valley: a typical chain hotel without much personality, but the rooms are spacious and comfortable, and breakfast is included in the price. It has laundry facilities, a gym, and a pool with a terrace. ➡️ Book it here.
Pioneertown Motel: not located in Yucca Valley, but in the tiny town of Pioneertown, a 10-minute drive away. This western-style town has been the filming location for several Hollywood movies! This makes it the hotel with the most original location near Joshua Tree, with rooms that have a retro feel but are also new. It's very close to the legendary Pappy & Harriet's cantina. ➡️ Book it here.

Pioneertown Motel, where to stay in Joshua Tree

Palm Springs

Palm Springs is located 63 km (39 mi) from the Western Entrance and 73 km (45 mi) from the Southern Entrance, making it a good base for visiting both sides of the park.

Here you'll find Palm Springs International Airport, the closest airport to the park, and it's known for its mid-century modern architecture, LGBTQ-friendly nightlife, and boutique hotels (although there're also American chain hotels). Here you can ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and go hiking in nearby Tahquitz Canyon and Indian Canyons.

🏨 You'll find all the lodging options in Palm Springs here, but these are a sure bet:

The Dunes Hotel: a renovated motel that has been given a boutique feel. It's located next to the city center, close to restaurants and bars. The rooms are comfortable and spacious, and the hotel has a swimming pool, gym, and pleasant lobby. ➡️ Book it here.
Best Western Inn Palm Springs: American chain hotel with beautiful, spacious rooms. It has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and breakfast included, served on an outdoor terrace. ➡️ Book it here.
Dive Palm Springs: a small boutique hotel for adults only with spectacular and beautiful décor. Ideal for couples looking to get away from it all! It has pleasant common areas, a swimming pool, sauna, and breakfast included in the price. ➡️ Book it here.

Accommodation near Joshua Tree — Dive Palm Springs, lodging near Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree accommodation — The Dunes Hotel, Palm Springs

Hotels south of Joshua Tree

Unlike the northern part of Joshua Tree, there is no accommodation near the Southern Entrance. The closest places to stay are the different towns in the Coachella Valley. In order of proximity to the Southern Entrance, these would be:

Indio

Located 42 km (26 mi) away, Indio is the largest town in the Coachella Valley and is constantly growing. It has a family-friendly atmosphere with accommodation options to suit all budgets and is known as the "City of Festivals" as it attracts thousands of visitors every year for the various festivals held here. There is also a variety of restaurants and shops.

🏨 You will find all accommodations in Indio here, but we suggest:

Rodeway Inn: budget motel with spacious, comfortable rooms that have been recently renovated. The rate includes a buffet breakfast and there is a swimming pool with a sun deck. It's close to a train line, so you may hear trains during the night. ➡️ Book it here.
Indian Palms Vacation Club: gated hotel offering fully equipped apartments with kitchen and living room, ideal for families. It has a swimming pool with solarium, sauna, and laundry facilities. ➡️ Book it here.

Best hotels Joshua Tree — Rodway Inn, Indio

Where to stay in Joshua Tree — Indian Palms Vacation Club, Indio

La Quinta

La Quinta is located 56 km (35 mi) from the Southern Entrance to Joshua Tree and is a more exclusive area with a more luxurious and secluded atmosphere, where resorts and golf courses abound. Old Town is a charming place to stroll around, with shops, restaurants, and street vendors.

🏨 You will find all accommodations in La Quinta here, but we recommend:

Residence Inn by Marriott La Quinta: modern hotel with suites and studios that have kitchen, but breakfast is still included. It has laundry facilities, a swimming pool, a small shop, and very pleasant common areas. ➡️ Book it here.
Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta: hotel complex with apartments equipped with kitchen and living room, most with terrace with views. It has a large swimming pool, sauna, and continental breakfast included. ➡️ Book it here.

Palm Desert

Located 58 km (36 mi) from the Southern Entrance, Palm Desert is right in the heart of the Coachella Valley. There is something for everyone here, from those looking for luxurious accommodation with a golf course to families or couples who prefer a more economical alternative without compromising on quality.

The Paseo Shopping District is right in the center, ideal for shopping and dining as it's full of boutiques, shopping malls, galleries, and restaurants. The Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument is nearby, if you feel like going on a hike.

🏨 You can find all accommodations in Palm Desert here, but we recommend:

Holiday Inn Express Palm Desert: a typical American chain hotel with everything you need - spacious rooms, a swimming pool, a gym, and a breakfast buffet included in the rate. ➡️ Book it here.
Sands Hotel and Spa: a spectacular 5⭐ boutique hotel from every angle. Its décor is undoubtedly its most striking feature, the rooms are beautiful and spacious, it has a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, and the staff are very nice. It's actually located in Indian Wells, next to Palm Desert. ➡️ Book it here.

Accommodation in Palm Desert — Holiday Inn Express Palm Desert

Hotels in Palm Springs — Sands Hotel and Spa

Campgrounds in Joshua Tree

Camping in Joshua Tree is the only way to stay overnight inside the park. There are a total of 8 campgrounds in Joshua Tree, five require advance reservations, and the other 3 are first-come, first-served.

For those who need to make a reservation in advance, this must be done through Recreation.gov, from the same day up to 6 months before the date you want. It's advisable to do this as far in advance as possible if you plan to go on a weekend, school holidays, or any day in spring. In summer, they're usually all open, but you should check for possible total or partial closures.

For first-come, first-served campgrounds, the procedure is that when you arrive and occupy one of the sites, you must register and pay within the first hour. A Ranger will come by to check whether you have paid or not.

This table lists all the campgrounds in Joshua Tree, their cost, opening dates, and whether or not advance reservations are required. You can find them all marked on the map at the end of the post.

CAMPGROUNDS IN JOSHUA TREE
	Type	Opening times	Price	To bear in mind
Black Rock Campground	Advance booking	Partial closure from June 1 to August 28	$35	Located at the northwesternmost point of the park, very close to Yucca Valley. This area isn't connected by road to the rest of the park. It has drinking water, flush toilets, and a dump station.
Cottonwood Campground	Advance booking	Partial closure from June 1 to August 28	$35	The only one in the southern part of the park. It has drinking water, flush toilets, and a dump station.
Indian Cove Campground	Advance booking	Partial closure from June 1 to August 28	$35	Located in the north of the park. It has pit toilets and no running water.
Jumbo Rocks Campground	Advance booking	Open all year round	$30	Located toward the center of the park. It has pit toilets and no running water.
Ryan Campground	Advance booking	Closed from June 1 to August 28	$30	Located toward the center of the park. It has pit toilets and no running water.
Hidden Valley Campground	First-come first-served	Open all year round	$25	Located towards the center of the park. It has pit toilets and no running water.
Belle Campground	First-come first-served	Closed from June 1 to August 28	$25	Located toward the center of the park. Small, it has pit toilets and no running water.
White Tank Campground	First-come first-served	Closed from June 1 to August 28	$25	Located toward the center of the park. Small, it has pit toilets and no running water.

Map of accommodation in Joshua Tree National Park

On this map, you'll see all the towns we have mentioned, the hotels we have recommended in each of them, and all the campgrounds within the park:

We hope we've helped you to choose the best area to stay in Joshua Tree!

Update date: 13 March 2026

Irene García

Co-founder and writer

I’m a pharmacist, but I discovered that traveling is my true passion in life. I spent 6 months backpacking through Southeast Asia and Australia, and more than 2 years traveling across the American continent in my camper, driving from Ushuaia to Alaska. As you can see, adventure is my thing!

I’m also addicted to dark chocolate, hiking, watching TV series, and I love all the animals on the planet. I’m the kind of person who rescues spiders that get into home!

United States is one of my favorite destinations—it seems to me like one of the most complete and diverse countries in the world! I hope you enjoy my USA travel guides, and if you feel like writing to me once you’re back from your trip, I’d love to hear how it went.